Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method, comprising: correlating, using a processor, a selected power domain of a circuit design comprising a plurality of power domains with a partial reconfiguration partition; implementing the circuit design within an integrated circuit; wherein the partial reconfiguration partition is implemented within a reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit; and emulating a power off state for the selected power domain of the circuit design by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit.
A method for testing power domains in a circuit design. First, a selected power domain from a circuit design (which has multiple power domains) is linked to a specific, reconfigurable area (a "partial reconfiguration partition") within an integrated circuit. The entire circuit design is then implemented on the integrated circuit, with the reconfigurable area residing within a reconfigurable region of the chip. Finally, a power-off state for the selected power domain is simulated by reconfiguring that reconfigurable area.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit implements circuitry of the power domain, specified by the configuration bitstream, in a powered on state.
The method from the previous power domain testing description where the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit implements the circuitry of the power domain. A configuration bitstream specifies this circuitry to be in a powered-on state. The configuration bitstream contains instructions to the configuration controller that determine the circuit's powered-on state within the reconfigurable region.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein emulating the power off state comprises loading a power off partial configuration bitstream into the integrated circuit for the reconfigurable region.
The method for power domain emulation where the reconfigurable region implements circuitry of a power domain in a powered-on state from a configuration bitstream, and emulating the power-off state involves loading a special "power off partial configuration bitstream" into the integrated circuit for the reconfigurable region. This bitstream specifically configures the reconfigurable area to mimic a power-off condition.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: emulating a startup fault condition for the selected power domain after emulating the power off state by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit; and testing at least a portion of the integrated circuit.
The method for power domain emulation, including emulating a power-off state, further includes simulating a startup fault condition for the selected power domain *after* emulating the power-off state. This is achieved by reconfiguring the reconfigurable region again. The integrated circuit is then tested to observe its behavior under this simulated fault condition.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein emulating the startup fault condition comprises loading a startup partial configuration bitstream into the integrated circuit for the reconfigurable region.
The method for power domain emulation that includes simulating a power-off state and a startup fault, where emulating the startup fault condition involves loading a specific "startup partial configuration bitstream" into the integrated circuit for the reconfigurable region. This bitstream defines the configuration used to simulate the startup fault.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the startup partial configuration bitstream specifies same circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the configuration bitstream with at least one memory element of the circuit design within the reconfigurable region storing a randomly selected value.
The method for power domain emulation that includes simulating a power-off state and a startup fault, where the "startup partial configuration bitstream" specifies the same circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the original configuration bitstream, but with at least one memory element within that reconfigurable region storing a random value. This simulates a potential corruption or uninitialized state during power-up.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the startup partial configuration bitstream specifies same circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the configuration bitstream with a memory element of the circuit design within the reconfigurable region storing a value that differs from the value of the memory element set by the configuration bitstream.
The method for power domain emulation that includes simulating a power-off state and a startup fault, where the "startup partial configuration bitstream" specifies the same circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the original configuration bitstream, but with a memory element storing a *different* value than the value set by the original configuration bitstream. This simulates a specific type of memory corruption or incorrect initialization.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the circuit design within the integrated circuit comprises connecting a power domain control signal generated by a power controller of the circuit design to a configuration controller of the integrated circuit.
The method for power domain emulation where the circuit design is implemented within the integrated circuit by connecting a power domain control signal (generated by a power controller in the circuit design) to a configuration controller *within* the integrated circuit. This allows the power controller to directly influence the configuration of the reconfigurable region.
9. An integrated circuit, comprising: a configuration controller that loads, within the integrated circuit, a configuration bitstream for a circuit design; and a reconfigurable region comprising programmable circuitry that is programmed by the configuration controller to implement circuitry of a power domain specified by the configuration bitstream; wherein the configuration controller emulates a power off state for the power domain of the circuit design by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit.
An integrated circuit that emulates power domains. It has a configuration controller that loads a configuration bitstream for a circuit design. A reconfigurable region contains programmable circuitry. The configuration controller programs this circuitry to implement a power domain, as specified by the loaded bitstream. To emulate a power-off state for that power domain, the configuration controller partially reconfigures the reconfigurable region.
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein: the configuration controller is coupled to a power domain control signal; and the configuration controller loads a power off partial configuration bitstream for the reconfigurable region responsive to the power domain control signal indicating a power off condition for the power domain.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains where the configuration controller is connected to a power domain control signal. The configuration controller loads a "power off partial configuration bitstream" for the reconfigurable region in response to the power domain control signal indicating a power-off condition for the power domain. This automates the power-off emulation.
11. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein: the configuration controller is coupled to a power domain control signal; and the configuration controller loads a startup partial configuration bitstream for the reconfigurable region responsive to the power domain control signal indicating a power on condition for the power domain.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains where the configuration controller is connected to a power domain control signal. The configuration controller loads a "startup partial configuration bitstream" for the reconfigurable region in response to the power domain control signal indicating a power-on condition for the power domain. This facilitates testing power-on sequences.
12. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein: the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit implements circuitry of the power domain, specified by the configuration bitstream, in a powered on state; and the configuration controller emulates a power off state by loading a power off partial configuration bitstream for the reconfigurable region into the integrated circuit.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains where the reconfigurable region implements circuitry of a power domain, specified by the original configuration bitstream, in a powered-on state. The configuration controller emulates a power-off state by loading a "power off partial configuration bitstream" for the reconfigurable region into the integrated circuit.
13. The integrated circuit of claim 12 , wherein the configuration controller emulates a startup fault condition for the power domain after emulating the power off state by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains including a power-off state where the configuration controller emulates a startup fault condition for the power domain *after* emulating the power-off state. This is achieved by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit again.
14. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the configuration controller emulates the startup fault condition for the power domain after the power off state by loading a startup partial configuration bitstream for the reconfigurable region into the integrated circuit.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains and startup faults where the configuration controller emulates the startup fault condition *after* the power-off state by loading a "startup partial configuration bitstream" for the reconfigurable region into the integrated circuit.
15. The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the startup partial configuration bitstream specifies same circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the configuration bitstream with at least one memory element of the circuit design within the reconfigurable region storing a randomly selected value.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains and startup faults where the startup partial configuration bitstream specifies the *same* circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the original configuration bitstream, but with at least one memory element within the reconfigurable region storing a *randomly selected* value.
16. The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the startup partial configuration bitstream specifies same circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the configuration bitstream with a memory element of the circuit design within the reconfigurable region storing a value that differs from the value of the memory element set by the configuration bitstream.
The integrated circuit that emulates power domains and startup faults where the startup partial configuration bitstream specifies the *same* circuitry for the reconfigurable region as the original configuration bitstream, but with a memory element within the reconfigurable region storing a *different* value than the value set by the original configuration bitstream.
17. A system, comprising: an integrated circuit comprising a reconfigurable region comprising programmable circuitry; and a configuration controller coupled to the integrated circuit that loads, within the integrated circuit, a configuration bitstream for a circuit design; wherein the reconfigurable region is programmed by the configuration controller to implement circuitry of a power domain specified by the configuration bitstream; and wherein the configuration controller emulates a power off state for the power domain of the circuit design by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit.
A system for power domain emulation, comprising an integrated circuit with a reconfigurable region that contains programmable circuitry. A configuration controller, connected to the integrated circuit, loads a configuration bitstream. The reconfigurable region then implements the circuitry of a power domain (as specified by the configuration bitstream). The configuration controller emulates a power-off state for the power domain by partially reconfiguring the reconfigurable region.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein: the configuration controller is coupled to a power domain control signal; and the configuration controller loads a power off partial bitstream for the reconfigurable region responsive to the power domain control signal indicating a power off condition for the power domain.
The system for power domain emulation where the configuration controller is coupled to a power domain control signal. The configuration controller loads a "power off partial bitstream" for the reconfigurable region in response to the power domain control signal indicating a power-off condition for the power domain.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the configuration controller, responsive to a power domain control signal, loads a startup partial bitstream for the reconfigurable region.
The system for power domain emulation where, in response to a power domain control signal, the configuration controller loads a "startup partial bitstream" for the reconfigurable region. This occurs presumably after a power-off emulation.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein: the reconfigurable region of the integrated circuit implements the power domain in a powered on state from the configuration bitstream; and the startup partial configuration bitstream implements the same circuitry within the reconfigurable region as the configuration bitstream except for at least one memory element storing a value that is randomly selected.
The system for power domain emulation where the reconfigurable region implements the power domain in a powered-on state according to the original configuration bitstream. The "startup partial configuration bitstream" then implements the *same* circuitry within the reconfigurable region, *except* that at least one memory element stores a value that is randomly selected.
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January 6, 2015
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